Employment for people with disabilities

Employment for people with a disability

The employment service aims to offer disabled people particular help with advice in training or finding work. The service also encourages employers to make work or training available to people through community services and the access to work scheme.

Jobcentre Plus is responsible for the national network of Jobcentres. The job centres give skilled advice at every stage of your search for a job and make sure you know which benefits or allowance you’re entitled to claim. They can also support you if you’re concerned about the impact of your disability on your existing job.

Disability employment advisers at your local Jobcentre Plus or Jobcentre can help and advise you regardless of your situation – even if you don’t have any work experience or if you haven’t worked for a long time.

Part of the support the employment advisor will give is provide you with an employment assessment, which will help you identify your abilities and strengths.

At the end of the assessment, you will have an action plan of steps you can take towards achieving your employment goals.

Access to work scheme

Access to work can help you if your health or disability affects the way you do your job. It gives you and the person you work for advice and support with no extra costs which may arise because of your needs.

Access to work might pay towards the equipment you need at work; adapting premises to meet your needs, or a support worker.

It can also pay towards the cost of getting to work if you can’t use trains or buses ad for a communicator at job interviews, if you need one.

New deal for disabled people

This is a programme of advice and practical support; which helps people move from disability and health-related benefits into paid employment. Many people who have joined this voluntary scheme have benefited from the support to develop new skills and improved confidence – plus the financial benefits of being in work.

For more information on the service provided by Jobcentre plus and the access to work scheme, visit the Directgov website.